Montreal: A new study of the dubbing industry in Quebec recommends government and industry work together for the abolition of a French decree which prohibits the distribution of movies dubbed anywhere other than France.

In February, Quebec Culture and Communications Minister Louise Beaudoin said Quebec could appeal the restrictive practice to the World Trade Organization if a solution was not forthcoming.

The 38-page report, prepared under the direction of sodec president Pierre Lampron, also recommended Quebec companies which receive public funds be obliged to dub their films and tv programs in Quebec, and that Quebec propose a similar measure to Heritage Canada. Faced with the ‘structural’ disadvantage, the report recommends a 15% tax credit be made available to Quebec dubbing companies.

The French decree also has the unsettling effect of forcing many Quebec companies to dub their tv programs in France, a commercial decision to ensure distribution in the much larger French market.

The dubbing industry in Quebec generates revenues of $19 million a year, employs some 700 people and represents annual earnings of $2.5 million for members of Union des Artistes and $1 million for English-speaking actra members.

Nearly half of the dubbing work done in Quebec is for feature films, mainly titles from the u.s. majors and Canadian subdistributors.

The report says a restrictive Quebec law mirroring the French decree would be ‘excessive’ and recommends instead the development of an overall technical services trade agreement with the u.s. studios and industry.

The report points out Warner Bros., Sony and Twentieth Century Fox have consistently ‘double dubbed’ films in both Quebec and France, and intend to continue this practice.